Language

On a residential street somewhere on the border between Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain is East of Elsewhere — a contemporary art space that slips between your fingers, escapes classification and brings up a feeling you can’t quite pin down. East of Elsewhere hosts events once, sometimes twice per month curating a selection of poets and artists to share their work. On these evenings, with people pouring out onto the steps of the residential building, the energy in the intimate gallery can barely be contained. During the rest of the month, East of Elsewhere is open for visitors upon request (scheduling is easy, by Instagrammessage or email). On a quiet Sunday afternoon, the space takes on an entirely different shape, providing a calm context for taking in the current exhibition. Whenever you visit, East of Elsewhere is welcoming — the founders (Clementine Butler-Gallie, Camila McHugh and Fred Simon) talk about the works in a manner that is thoughtful and familiar. Their current group show, “I Contain Multitudes,” (on through 19.2.2018) invites artists and poets to respond to the Whitman quote that inspired the exhibition’s name. (Text: Marianne Abbott / Photos: Marianne Abbott / Clementine Butler-Gallie / Arthur Laidlaw)